Author's Note: In this chapter we move back to the story line we can all agree about - the development of the relationship of alternate timeline Spock and Nyota, who conclude their successful mission to transfer the remnant to New Vulcan. They experience an unexpected visit to the planet's surface.

I hope that you have all enjoyed "Like Seeing A Ghost" and want to continue reading my Spock/Uhura fan fiction. I am thinking about writing a fan fiction about their mission to observe the Nibiru.

Chapter 13: Like Seeing A Ghost - Part 7 (conclusion)

It was very early morning before the Enterprise needed to depart. Commander Spock closed his communicator after having an unexpected wake up call. He rolled over in bed, and told Nyota as he held her. She'd awakened with the communicator chirp, and was anxious to know the outcome of the call. Calls in the middle of the night were never good.

Spock explained, "My father wants to visit us before we depart. I accepted. He will be here in ten minutes."

She soothed his arm and kissed him gently, "That will be nice Spock. He's helped you a lot through these times."

"I am grateful for that assistance."

They dressed quickly, with Nyota letting Spock help her get into her short tunic skirt, even though she didn't need the help, but it was something he loved doing and she loved him doing it. Nyota quickly put her hair in pony tail. They hastily kissed and a hugged, and waited for his father's arrival.

Sarek appeared at the door and knocked. The door opened and the pair greeted him. In proper protocol with his full Vulcan father, the couple did not touch.

"Father. It is good to see you."

"I share equal sentiments, Spock. You and Nyota are well, I presume?"

"Yes father, we are. Please come in."

"I would rather you come with me. I have something to show you."

Without delay, they secured the quarters, and the trio walked wordlessly to the transporter room. This early, there was no one in the hallways, and they surprised the napping transporter officer. Spock hesitated.

"Father, are you certain we should travel in this fashion? You are an Elder, and you are forbidden to travel by transporter," warned the Commander.

Sarek dismissed his concern, "Spock, thank you for your fastidious adherence to the rules as usual. I would observe that you saved me and all but one of the others by transporting us from a planet disintegrating around us. It is safe to travel this way, and I accept the risks. We don't have enough time to go by shuttle."

They climbed on the transporter, Sarek gave the officer the coordinates, it energized, and the three materialized on top of a high mountain. The expansive view was breathtaking. It was as if the original Vulcan existed again. A sliver of the planet's huge orange sun had just cracked the horizon and began to rise in the sky in a spectacular sunrise. It was already brutally hot. The heavier gravity weighed on them, and the air was thin. Red and orange hues pervaded everywhere, across the early morning sky.

Commander Spock noted again – this time first hand from the surface - that Ambassador Spock could not have made a better choice for New Vulcan. He speculated how cathartic this was for the remnant to have as familiar an environment as they could, as they tried to figure out the future. Young Spock worried about the health of Nyota in this harsh environment, but she stood firm and took it in stride. He remembered her mountain climbing skills and her exceptional tolerance of high altitudes.

With a sweeping gesture, Sarek described what they were seeing, "Behold our new homeland, Spock. We will have a new Mount Seleya far to the east and a new place of joining. This is that place, and my gift to the remnant. In time, it will carved by our hands to have a ceremonial ring and altar, just as it had been on Vulcan – to become a place of joining in koon ut kal if fee for the progeny of New Vulcan. You, my children, have joined in the ancient ways of pon farr and are mates. Do you love her, my son?"

"Yes Father. Most assuredly."

"Do you love Spock, Nyota, my daughter?"

She responded with no hesitation, "I do. With all my heart, Elder Sarek."

"I would prefer you address me as, 'Father', Nyota," requested Sarek.

Nyota's eyes were moist, but she remained as unemotional as she could. Sarek used the endearing words 'his daughter' and 'Father'. It was profound. She was deeply moved by his clear affection.

He placed their hands together and placed his hands on theirs. She felt Sarek's strong emotion for them surge through his touch.

He spoke, "Until such time as you are joined by ceremony here on this mountain top to celebrate the bond you have already, I give you my blessings, and my own love as a father, on behalf of Spock's mother. It is often said that we Vulcans are unemotional. I would prefer to think we are selective with whom we express our deepest emotions."

There were no words to describe what they all felt. They immersed themselves in the moment. When that time had passed, Spock asked, "Father. While we are here, I have a question."

"Ask."

"About Ambassador Spock. What will be your relation with him, Father?"

"We have already established that, Spock. He is as much my son as you are. The powers that have made us all in the universe have given me a unique perspective on you, my son. You simultaneously exist as an accomplished world leader, and as a promising young officer who will achieve many things yet to be."

"Is there no paradox in that for you?"

"There is, but I accept it. As I urge you to do. Your sleep will be more restful. And so will hers. He promised me that he would not interfere or take away any of the achievements you will yet attain with your friends and Nyota."

"As he did me too. But there will be times when his knowledge is needed for the good of the Federation, and for Nyota and me."

"I am not surprised, Spock. Helpfulness is in your nature. Whether you are old or young."

"This logic of this situation is going to be difficult to understand for a very long time, Father."

"But understand it we will, Spock. Think of him as an older brother. You and Ambassador Spock both possess a unique set of remarkable talents, my son. I am most fortunate that you both exist in my life, especially with your mother gone. No father will ever live who can see the ultimate accomplishments of their son at the same time he is doing them."

"You are very wise, Father."

"It is unfortunate that your mother is not present to hear that, Spock. She often disagreed," Sarek noted wryly with a raised eyebrow.

Spock responded in kind and Nyota bit her lip to suppress a laugh. Anyone who thought Vulcans had no humor didn't listen to them close enough, she concluded.

It was time to go. Nyota dared to hug her father-in-law, and after a momentary surprise, he hugged her back, holding her in the embrace. He sorely missed his embraces with Amanda.

Spock flipped his communicator with a satisfied look at that shared hug, and ordered, "Two to beam up."

"Live long and prosper – Father," Nyota signed and spoke to Sarek in Vulcan.

Returning the sign, Sarek was pleased and replied, "And you also, Daughter. And Spock."

"Energize," ordered Spock as he acknowledged his father's farewell.

The shimmering pair disappeared. Sarek turned and gazed out on to the expanding sunrise. He contemplated on the mountain top, drawing strength from his thoughts of children both near and far, and his dear Amanda, still living in his heart. For a moment he imagined what it would be like to become a grandfather by Nyota and young Spock, and mused what it was about his family's genetic stock that preferred human women as mates. He even wondered about Spock's half-brother Sybok, and hoped his estranged oldest child still survived somewhere in the universe.

Logic only went so far when it came to his family.

…

Spock and Nyota materialized on the transporter dais on the Enterprise, stepped down and into the hallway, and walked back to their quarters.

"Spock. That was amazing! New Vulcan is such a beautiful place. I can't wait to be there again," she smiled at him.

"It will be most fulfilling to stand there with you upon the completion of the ceremonial ring."

"That was the vision you gave me, Spock," she mused.

They walked a few paces down the hall silently, but their routine returned to normal quickly.

"What's next, Commander?" Nyota asked, keeping their superior/subordinate protocol as the halls were filled with crewmen headed to their morning shifts.

Picking up on her lead, he said, "Lieutenant, at 1000 hours, Captain Kirk has called a staff meeting. I understand that we will be assigned an exploration mission to observe a primitive culture. This will be our first experience as a crew with the Prime Directive. And we are both off duty until that time."

"That sounds exciting, but I can't do that on an empty stomach. I'm famished. Since we are off until then, how about sharing breakfast, Commander? It's only 0700. A bowl of plomeek soup perhaps?" she suggested with a happy expression.

"My pleasure, Lieutenant. To quote a human phrase: 'I'm always ready for plomeek soup'," Spock subtly smirked back at her.

They made a quick turn into the Officers Mess.

While they were waiting for their order to be prepared, Spock whispered in Nyota's ear, "You may find it significant that there is adequate time before staff meeting for us to accomplish another lesson in that 'Indian invention' you have recently brought to my attention."

She turned and grinned broadly to his slyly raised eyebrow, and nearly shouted to the galley's short order cook, "That order will be 'to go', please!"